In a shipyard nestled in Jakobstad, Finland, the iconic Baltic 175, formerly known as Pink Gin, is undergoing a remarkable 10-month refit. This extensive renovation aims to refresh the yacht’s interior aesthetics and optimize its sailing potential.
Purchased earlier this year by a new owner, the world’s largest sloop-rigged, all-carbon sailing yacht embarked on this refit after an extended delivery from the Mediterranean. The owner, keen to make the yacht his own, spent time aboard during the delivery cruise to precisely determine the desired upgrades.
Matthew Lester, Baltic Yachts’ Commercial Vice President, highlighted the owner’s commitment to bringing the yacht back home. This period of assessment allowed the owner to pinpoint necessary improvements and refinements, setting the stage for the ongoing refit.
Delivered in 2017, the judel/vrolijk-designed Baltic 175 has already accumulated over 25,000 nautical miles, undertaking numerous transatlantic passages. Regular maintenance has kept the yacht in excellent condition, making the current work predominantly focused on aesthetics and performance enhancement.
Interior Transformation
Design Unlimited, the company responsible for the yacht’s original interior, is orchestrating the changes. Softer tones and light oak veneers will redefine surfaces, from bunk headboards to tabletops. The accommodation layout remains largely the same, with the addition of a breakfast bar in the main saloon’s upper level.
The owner’s suite, featuring a fold-out balcony in the topsides for direct access to a private bathing and boarding platform, is undergoing a comprehensive revamp. Hand-carved timber furniture, crafted by Baltic Yachts’ skilled craftsmen, will redefine this unique space. New loose furniture, including contemporary sofas in neutral tones, will enhance the main living areas.
Optimizing Performance
Baltic Yachts, collaborating with North Sails and Rig Pro, is implementing a new sail plan, rigging alterations, and deck gear upgrades to exploit the Baltic 175’s design pedigree. The yacht’s 70m Rondal carbon mast, one of the tallest globally, will undergo modifications to accommodate a square-top mainsail and a more powerful sail plan.
To complement the upgraded sail plan, smaller, faster, and lighter winches supplied by Harken will replace existing deck winches. Finnish designer Jarkko Jämsén is overseeing the restyling of the main cockpit’s fixed bimini, with alterations made to helm stations, modernizing ergonomics, and adding an additional helmsman’s bimini set on a carbon fiber tubular framework.
The yacht’s hull color will remain the same, but the gold cove line will be replaced with a black line, and the boom will be repainted to match the hull color.
(Baltic 175: A Majestic Makeover Unveiled – barchemagazine.com – November 2023)
